Day 091: Overcoming Obstacles

"So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.  Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way."  Luke 4:28-30

Imagine how frightening it would be to be led along a cliff by an angry mob dead set on throwing you off.  Imagine what a relief you would feel if you saw a way to walk through the crowd, like nothing, and go on your way.

Those are the things I think about when I read this passage.  It shows a stark contrast between the irrational, angry mob and the calm Jesus.  It also shows two important messages.  The first message is: watch whom you're following.  I would dare to say that many of the people who were in the mob were just people following their "leaders" in the synagogues.  These leaders were ones who preached against the light and against love.  Instead, they promoted hate, and they championed persecution as the only solution to any problem.  But the people who followed didn't seem to know what they were doing.  They must have been yelling and chanting whatever their leaders were shouting.  They obviously didn't do a great job with their gathering, for they missed Jesus entirely as he passed through them.  Sometimes, the people whom we follow are leading us straight up the cliff in such a convincing manner that we miss our savior, our salvation.

The second message is: there is always a way out of a troublesome situation.  When things get very tough, God has a way to make it through.  Jesus just did what he needed to do: he passed through the crowd.  They didn't notice him at all as he made his way through.  God is always making sure that we have a path to follow towards the light.  Jesus is moving through the many crowds of challenges that might be chasing us so that we can follow him to a better life.

We need to make sure that we are always following Jesus along his way, for his way is the way of love, of compassion, of mercy, of forgiveness.  His way is the right way.